PENNY-WISE, COPPER-FOOLISH?: The City Council in El Cerrito this week approved the installation of public art sculptures suspended from streetlights on San Pablo Avenue, prompting this response on Twitter from an observer: “Once El Cerrito installs the fancy copper light pole wind sculptures (sigh, yes), who wants in on my pool for copper thieves to get ’em.”

A NEW SHADE OF GREEN: The Times has been running lists of Earth Day events that focus on education and environmental stewardship via cleanup events around the East Bay. But The Eye has also noticed an alternative event in Richmond that was also being promoted with an Earth Day theme. The second annual Deep Green Festival on Saturday at the Craneway Pavilion in Richmond was promoted as an event that “sheds light on medical, ecological and economic benefits of cannabis,” featuring live entertainment, workshops and speakers, vendors and exhibits.

Promoters did caution: “There is no sale or distribution of products containing THC at the Deep Green Festival,” and “Medical Marijuana Prop. 215 recommendation (would be) required for vapor lounge/smoking area admittance wristband.”

PUTTING his money where his mouth is: During the lengthy discussion last week about a lice-removal salon’s plans to move into a building in the 500 block of Main Street in downtown Martinez, Councilman Mark Ross argued that rather than deterring customers, the business will draw people who never come to Martinez.

Merchants should worry less about cross-contamination and instead look forward to the benefits of co-location. That additional foot traffic, Ross said, likely will lead to ringing cash registers for nearby shops and restaurants.

Lest anyone doubt his sincerity, Ross made a pledge that made the Eye slightly squeamish: “I’ll be the first, if somebody’s business, their patrons get a lice, a louse on them, one of their patrons, you come to me,” he said. “I’ll give you 500 bucks to take care of the problem, that’s my personal guarantee.”

Now, that’s what we call scratching an itch.

GENERAL DEBATE GOES LATE: Richmond’s General Plan, which one official likened to the city’s “land use constitution,” was unveiled at a council meeting Tuesday night. But the City Council didn’t have a chance to discuss it, much less vote, because the public had plenty to say. At least 111 people signed up for three-minute slots to express their concerns, and the meeting adjourned just shy of midnight.

Of particular concern is an amendment recommended by the Planning Commission that could impose tight local restriction on emissions, which business leaders call a “job killer.” The plan, which would guide land use and development through 2030, anticipates that the city will grow from 102,000 residents to more than 125,000 and calls for “high-intensity” commercial and retail development downtown, at Marina Bay and around the Hilltop Mall area. The plan could come before the council for a vote later this month.

DIVINE INTERVENTION: State Sen. Mark DeSaulnier may not know how his colleagues will vote on a bill to provide help for homeowners fighting foreclosure, but he’s pretty confident someone’s on his side. Before stepping to the podium during a Monday news conference to discuss the bill, the Concord legislator noticed six local ministers standing in a row behind him.

There was no offense taken by any of the ministers, as the Rev. Mario Howell compared the issue to Moses leading the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Howell called DeSaulnier “Moses” and his staff attorney “Joshua” to illustrate the point.

Beauty in the eye of the reporter: Under a bright sun and amid a cool, salt-tinged breeze rolling in from the nearby Pacific Ocean, The Eye was reminded of the beauty of nature and allure of the oft-derided journalism profession.

The setting was a cattle ranch in the tiny town of Tomales in Marin County, where owner Loren Poncia and his family raise cows in humane, sustainable ways in an environment with million-dollar views and acre upon acre of glimmering green pastures.

The Eye was there to report on a story about the increasing popularity in the East Bay of meat from sustainable sources, and notes were being jotted down inside the barbed wire with an eye on the 300 surrounding cows.

Poncia’s phone rang in the middle of the field, and it happened to be one of The Eye’s sources, a meat man from the Local Butcher Shop in Berkeley.

“Any advice for the reporter in the pasture?” Poncia asked the butcher.

“Tell him to watch where he steps,” the butcher said, laughing loud enough to be heard a few feet from the phone.

And with a look to the shoes, the oft-derided journalism profession seemed a bit less alluring.

More in News

SAN JOSE -- Grenades were discovered at an estate sale Monday, prompting the evacuation of about 10 homes near the San Jose Country Club, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. Deputies were called to the 300 block of Gordon Avenue, near Greenside Drive, about 4:10 p.m., said Sgt. Rich Glennon. Get breaking news with our free mobile app....